Christian Alshon Pickleball Upset Victory: Christian Alshon defeated Hunter Johnson 11-3, 11-7 in their match, advancing to his first final since March. The No. 6 seed overcame a slow start in the second game and secured his second straight win over the top-seeded Johnson, who took a medical timeout for a calf injury.
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Alshon Overcomes Early Deficit
The match began with Christian Alshon in control, winning the first game 11-3. Between games, Hunter Johnson requested a medical timeout for a calf issue. In the second game, Johnson started strong with a 6-0 lead. It seemed like the match would go to a third game, but Alshon quickly turned it around.
He scored eleven of the next twelve points to win 11-7, closing out the match in straight games. The performance gave him another victory over Johnson, following a recent win earlier this season.
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Staying Composed Under Pressure
After the match, Christian Alshon explained how he stayed calm despite falling behind in the second game.
“Hunter was just playing well. I missed the first return, but other than that, he just hit a couple crazy backhand winners. It’s easy to get mad when somebody starts playing really well, but at the same time, there’s no reason to get mad because you’re not the one doing it,”
Alshon told Pickleballtv’s Kamryn Blackwood and Matt Manasse.
“I just had to try and weather the storm.”
Alshon’s ability to stay focused helped him secure his first final appearance since winning the Texas Open in March.
What This Means Going Forward
The victory showed Christian Alshon’s resilience and his growing confidence against top opponents. For Hunter Johnson, the calf problem could raise concerns about his future matches. Alshon’s win now sets him up as a strong contender for the title in his upcoming final.
News in Brief: Christian Alshon Pickleball Upset Victory
Christian Alshon beat top-seeded Hunter Johnson 11-3, 11-7 to reach his first final since March. Johnson took a medical timeout for a calf issue but could not hold off Alshon, who rallied from 0-6 down in Game 2. Alshon credited his composure for securing his second straight win over Johnson.